Potential New Coach Names

#52
#52
She would have been the right choice then, but she had some health matters going on, and I think having her husband as an assistant is non-negotiable. The timing might be better for all parties right now!
Again, we are letting identity politics hinder our possibilities by ruling out the hubby/wife thing. It makes the program look impossibly old fashioned and stuck in the past. Which is the very last thing we need. We have to stop putting up artificial barriers to who we hire. My God how much more painfully could we have learned this?

And I think Lisa Fortier and whoever her assistants are would be a great choice. Thought so two years ago
 
#53
#53
Again, we are letting identity politics hinder our possibilities by ruling out the hubby/wife thing. It makes the program look impossibly old fashioned and stuck in the past. Which is the very last thing we need. We have to stop putting up artificial barriers to who we hire. My God how much more painfully could we have learned this?

And I think Lisa Fortier and whoever her assistants are would be a great choice. Thought so two years ago

I completely agree. Sure, evaluate the staff a new coach brings, but there are some benefits of having a spouse on staff as long as they are a high-quality assistant. A big plus is that you don't have to worry about them leaving, which creates built-in stability. As long as they are good at their job, it's a win-win, and IMO worth the risk, if your evaluation of the spouse is good.
 
#56
#56
Vic's got that Texas money, has it made a Texas much moreso that Frese or Walz, and he's 10 years older than Frese and Walz.

Vic leaving Texas is 0%
Kim leaving LSU is 0%
Dawn leaving SC is 0%
Geno leaving UConn is 0%
Well, to be clear, I don’t actually think Vic would ever leave Texas. And I very much doubt the LVs would ever pursue him. But if he was available, he’d be a good fit.
 
#60
#60

Potential New Coach Names​

I apologize to one and all. When starting this thread I was thinking of names of potential candidates, and wrote the above with no consideration for its ambiguity.
There is no objective, scientifically valid support for the notion that Kim wants to change her name.

For those who enjoy sarcastic, intentional misinterpretations, I will start off:

Matilda
Eben
Henrietta
Alfred


IMG_3778.jpeg
 
#62
#62
I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and wondering: what if we expanded our pool to include candidates with WNBA coaching experience?

1. Kristi Toliver, associate head coach, Phoenix Mercury
* star power, elite-player credibility, and high-level bench experience

- NBA assistant coaching experience with Washington Wizards (assistant/player-development coach) and Dallas Mavericks (assistant coach)
- 14 WNBA seasons, two WNBA titles as a player
- played college ball at Maryland, won the national championship in 2006
- Her range of professional accomplishments matters for us because it signals both tactical sophistication and unusual professional polish. Beyond the X’s and O’s, Toliver would immediately bring name recognition, recruiting cachet, and offense-first credibility from her career as a two-time WNBA champion and three-time All-Star. If the goal is to make a bold hire who can re-engage and energize the fan base, command a room, and give the program a modern, pro-style identity, she has a strong case.

2. Rena Wakama, assistant coach, Chicago Sky; assistant coach, Hive BC (Unrivaled); head coach, Nigeria’s women’s national team (FIBA named her the Best Coach of the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s tournament, and Nigeria became the first African team to reach the Olympic quarterfinals in basketball)
* mix of college, professional, and international head-coach success
- Alma mater: Western Carolina University
- a rising leader with both college roots and real head-coach proof. She is currently an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky, while also carrying a major international résumé: FIBA named her the Best Coach of the Paris 2024 women’s Olympic tournament after Nigeria’s historic run. Her college background is a major plus for this job: Manhattan’s official bio says she spent two years as director of operations and then four years as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, and Tulane/Stony Brook materials describe her as a coach who worked in recruiting, guard-wing development, academics, and culture-building. For where we are now, that combination is powerful: she is not just a rising name, but someone who has already shown she can lead, teach, recruit, and build a coherent program identity.

3. Briann January, assistant coach, Indiana Fever
* projects as a very strong culture and development coach; looks like the steadiest long-term developer

- a WNBA title, an All-Star appearance, and seven All-Defensive selections as a player
- Arizona State alum, two-time Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year
- Previous coaching positions: Arizona State assistant coach; Connecticut Sun assistant coach; Motor City Cruise (NBAG-League) assistant coach.
- would bring a clear defensive identity and a safe day-to-day player-development floor. She is currently an assistant coach with the Indiana Fever, and her profile has long been built around toughness, poise, and guard leadership. As a player, she was known as a tremendous defender, floor leader, and relentless competitor. That profile translates well to a job where the coach must establish standards, develop guards, and build a disciplined culture. As an assistant, she prioritizes teaching, accountability, and long-term roster development.
 
#63
#63
I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and wondering: what if we expanded our pool to include candidates with WNBA coaching experience?

1. Kristi Toliver, associate head coach, Phoenix Mercury
* star power, elite-player credibility, and high-level bench experience

- NBA assistant coaching experience with Washington Wizards (assistant/player-development coach) and Dallas Mavericks (assistant coach)
- 14 WNBA seasons, two WNBA titles as a player
- played college ball at Maryland, won the national championship in 2006
- Her range of professional accomplishments matters for us because it signals both tactical sophistication and unusual professional polish. Beyond the X’s and O’s, Toliver would immediately bring name recognition, recruiting cachet, and offense-first credibility from her career as a two-time WNBA champion and three-time All-Star. If the goal is to make a bold hire who can re-engage and energize the fan base, command a room, and give the program a modern, pro-style identity, she has a strong case.

2. Rena Wakama, assistant coach, Chicago Sky; assistant coach, Hive BC (Unrivaled); head coach, Nigeria’s women’s national team (FIBA named her the Best Coach of the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s tournament, and Nigeria became the first African team to reach the Olympic quarterfinals in basketball)
* mix of college, professional, and international head-coach success
- Alma mater: Western Carolina University
- a rising leader with both college roots and real head-coach proof. She is currently an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky, while also carrying a major international résumé: FIBA named her the Best Coach of the Paris 2024 women’s Olympic tournament after Nigeria’s historic run. Her college background is a major plus for this job: Manhattan’s official bio says she spent two years as director of operations and then four years as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, and Tulane/Stony Brook materials describe her as a coach who worked in recruiting, guard-wing development, academics, and culture-building. For where we are now, that combination is powerful: she is not just a rising name, but someone who has already shown she can lead, teach, recruit, and build a coherent program identity.

3. Briann January, assistant coach, Indiana Fever
* projects as a very strong culture and development coach; looks like the steadiest long-term developer

- a WNBA title, an All-Star appearance, and seven All-Defensive selections as a player
- Arizona State alum, two-time Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year
- Previous coaching positions: Arizona State assistant coach; Connecticut Sun assistant coach; Motor City Cruise (NBAG-League) assistant coach.
- would bring a clear defensive identity and a safe day-to-day player-development floor. She is currently an assistant coach with the Indiana Fever, and her profile has long been built around toughness, poise, and guard leadership. As a player, she was known as a tremendous defender, floor leader, and relentless competitor. That profile translates well to a job where the coach must establish standards, develop guards, and build a disciplined culture. As an assistant, she prioritizes teaching, accountability, and long-term roster development.
Interesting viewpoint.

We won't mention a certain Baylor coach…
 
#66
#66
It’s a fan forum, exactly the kind of thing it exists for. Is she getting fired soon, most likely not. But I agree that any talk over the next year might help ole Danny avoid another mistake.
Does anyone think Danny reads VN for assistance when picking coaches?

I enjoy coach speculation but thinking Danny White is reading here is like believing Peyton would want to see a play I drew up for him.
 
#67
#67
I think it would be a terrible idea for her to go there. She’s building something special in Tennessee and she’s a southern girl.

We’ve seen how following a legend goes first hand. I pity whoever follows in Geno’s footsteps.
You got that right! She should stay in Tennessee at Vandy! And yes, pity the poor soul who takes the job after Geno. Not only following probably the biggest legend in WBB, but to have to do it in the crappy, crappy Big East. One word...NIGHTMARE!
 
#68
#68
Does anyone think Danny reads VN for assistance when picking coaches?

I enjoy coach speculation but thinking Danny White is reading here is like believing Peyton would want to see a play I drew up for him.
No he don't read he listens to what people are saying that actually pay to support these programs. He has his input what he wants to do and they either ok it with money support or no support and then he goes the way of the money. The decision to keep her will need to have support of these boosters. Were going to need to buy players out of the portal and the support has to be there to do that. I think it is going to take a lot and like this group you may get them and then they still come here and half way play.
I think the best thing he could do is admit this was a mistake start again with a new hire with a reasonable system and then try to put together a team that is effective enough to win games to at least get in the NCAA.
 
#69
#69
You got that right! She should stay in Tennessee at Vandy! And yes, pity the poor soul who takes the job after Geno. Not only following probably the biggest legend in WBB, but to have to do it in the crappy, crappy Big East. One word...NIGHTMARE!
Huh? How would being in an easy conference be anything but a huge help to the next UConn coach? Bet my bottom dollar Kim Caldwell wishes she was any conference other than the SEC.
 
#70
#70
No he don't read he listens to what people are saying that actually pay to support these programs. He has his input what he wants to do and they either ok it with money support or no support and then he goes the way of the money. The decision to keep her will need to have support of these boosters. Were going to need to buy players out of the portal and the support has to be there to do that. I think it is going to take a lot and like this group you may get them and then they still come here and half way play.
I think the best thing he could do is admit this was a mistake start again with a new hire with a reasonable system and then try to put together a team that is effective enough to win games to at least get in the NCAA.
I think he listens to people who support the program but I'm doubting A-List donors are here also. "Rank and file" fans don't have Danny's cell number but I'm sure several big donors do and can get lunch with him, if they ask.

I just can't imagine any VN speculation or suggestion is more meaningful than my buddies and I solving the world's problems over coffee and biscuits at Hardee's. The last time I checked none of the movers and shakers in the world were at the table.
 
#71
#71
😂😂😂 yall are nuts. You'll be talking bout "potential coaches" for the next year maybe 2. Jesus. Message boards bring out the nutcases that just type whatever. Reminds me of the clowns on the view. 😅
 
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#73
#73
It’s a fan forum, exactly the kind of thing it exists for. Is she getting fired soon, most likely not. But I agree that any talk over the next year might help ole Danny avoid another mistake.
Exactly, this forum is like a shopaholic with no money and no influence but its fun for the fans. Thinking fan forum pitchforks and torches are going to rule the day. Reminds me of watching those old westerns, we need a new Marshall, great entertainment.
 

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